Stackable trays and holder for same



1954 o. F. BLOM STACKABLE TRAYS AND HOLDER FOR SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 29, I950 R. MW ML VB i m r 0.

July 27, 1954 Q R BLQM 2,684,766

STACKABLE TRAYS AND HOLDER FOR SAME Filed Dec. 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 20770 fi'BLQM M 1 22 oawmw Patented July 27, 1954 STACKABLETRAYS ANDHOLDER FOR OttoF. Blom, New York, N.Y.,- assignor to American CanCompany, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New, Jersey ApplicationDecember 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,468

9 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to containers such as filing baskets,sorting boxes, storage trays,

.etc. and has particular reference to such containers, hereinafterreferred to as trays, which may be stacked upon one another for use inspaced relation and which may be nested within one another compactlywhen not in use.

An object of the invention is the provision of a storage tray which isformed in such a manner that a plurality of such trays may be readilyand securely stacked one upon another to provide a series. ofverticallydisposed bins or compartments which may be utilized for;filing or collating letters and other papers .or articles or for storingpages of. letters, booklets, or other articles arranged so that they.may be conveniently withdrawn for assembly into various classificationsor forms.

. Another object is the provision of such a tray which is formed withco-operating lugs and notches for securing the trays, together againstshifting or displacement when in stacked relation.

Another object is theprovisionof such'a storage tray which may bereadilyand compactly nested one within anotherso that a-plurality of such traysmay-be stored in a small space when not in use.

Stillanotherobject .is the provision of; such .a tray which may be drawnor molded economically from light weight material preferably in a singlepiece so that a plurality of such trays may be readily assembled orotherwise handled with ease.

Another object is. the. provision ofsuch-a tray which is formed forco-operation with a' bracket, supportor display'stand for holding aplurality of stacked. trays in an angular position while simultaneously.retaining flatsheetsor other articles on the trays in a convenientarrangement for ready classification or withdrawal.

Numerous other objects and advantages .of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

.Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tray embodying the instantinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing. howa plurality of the .traysstack one .on topof the other;

- Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation showing four traysin stacked relation in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4-is an enlarged side elevation of a plurality of,unusedtrays-nested one'within another;

:Fig. 5 ,isa fragmentary front elevation of the nested. trays shown inFig 4 Fig..6,is asideelevation of a plurality of the trays illustratedin Fig. 1 arranged in an ,angu- .larly disposedposition in a holder;

.Eig; 7 is a reduced scale perspective View of the .holdershown in Fig.6; and

Fig. 8 ,is an enlargedsectional view .taken through the traysand theholder shown inFig. 6, withparts brokenwaway.

:Asal refen-ed or exemplary embodiment of the invention. thedrawingsflisclose a v generally rectangular shaped traypreferably madeof a one- .piece lightweight sheet metal. ,The tray preferably comprisesa-flat rectangular bottom Wall ll Fig. 1) surrounded by-apair ofuprightside walls 12 and one end wall [Sconnecting the two side-walls. Thetwo--side walls l2 andthe end wall iataperor flare upwardly, andoutwardly at an angleslightly. greater than to the, bottom wall H so.that the trays will readily nest one within another.

bottom wall I l. projects forwardly beyond the side walls 1 2.: toproyide,.a;bottom wall extension [4 which .is disposed in the plane ofthebottom wall ll.

.Thextwo. opposed side walls i 2 preferably are .the same height, andterminate in,upper straight edges, I6 which are formed with. shallow.rectangular notches or. recesses 1,1 [8 all of which are of the; samedepth with their .bottomsdisposedin thesame horizontal plane. ,There isoneeach of thesenotches [1.18 in eachwall edge '16 land they are spaced1a,; predetermined. distance apart andarelocated one .adjacenteach endof the side walls I 2. The notches; ll constitute frontnotches and thenotches l8 constitute-rear notches. .The notches l1, H3, in. onewall.edge 46 are disposed directly opposite -and in alignment with thenotches intheopposite. wall. edge.

. :The height; of. the endawall l3- is substantially equalxto thedistance..between, thegbottom of the notches. [1,. l8 and thebottomiwallsection: I I so that. the. top nterminaledge; of the end wall; section,which preferably is straight, is :in: thasa and the two lugs aredirectly opposite and in alignment with each other. The lugs extendupwardly from the outer edge of the bottom wall extension at a Slightangle thereto and terminate in a hook 2i. The distance between the twoopposing hooks 2! is substantially the same or slightly greater than thedistance between the bottom edges of the front notches ll in the twoside walls i2. The width of the hooks is substantially equal to but notgreater than the width of the notches i'l.

Between the front notches H and the rear notches E3, the side walls l2are cut away the full height of the walls to provide rectangularopenings 23 in each of the side walls l2 for nesting purposes to bedescribed. These openings are directly opposite and in alignment witheach other. At the base of the opening 23, the bottom wall I l is formedwith two rear support lugs or tongues 24 which are similar to the lugsor tongues i9 and which extend outwardly from the edge of the bottomwall II. There is one lug on each side of the bottom wall i l. The lugsextend upwardly at a slight angle to the bottom wall section andterminate in hooks 25. The width of these rear lugs 24 is substantiallyequal to but not greater than the width of the rear notches it and thewidth of the openings 23. The two lugs 24 are spaced from the front lugsH! the same distance that the front notches ll are spaced from the rearnotches Id. The transverse spacing of the rear hooks 25 is substantiallythe same or slightly greater than the distance between the bottom edgesof the rear notches l8 in the two side walls I2. The width of theopenings 23 in the side walls i2 is substantially equal or slightlygreater than the width of the rear lugs 2%.

Hence with such an arrangement of spaced front and rear notches l'l, l8and front and rear lugs E9, 24, a plurality of trays may be readilystacked vertically one upon another as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to providea plurality of compartments or bins into which articles or sheets may bereadily stored. and from which they may just as readily be withdrawn. Insuch a stacked relation, the front support lugs iii of one tray fit intothe front notches ll of another tray with the hooks 2| of the lugsresting on the bottom edges of the notches and thus supporting the uppertray. In a similar manner the rear support lugs 24 of the upper tray fitinto the rear notches it of the lower tray with the hooks 25 of the lugsresting on the bottom edges of the notches and thus supporting the uppertray. Along the rear portion of the trays, the bottom wall ll of theupper tray rests on and is supported by the top terminal edge of therear end wall it of the lower tray. Thus the upper tray is completelysupported by the lower tray and is secured against shifting ordisplacement by the lugs and notches in the trays, while the front ofthe trays remains open for reception of sheets or other flat articles.With such a manner of supporting and locking the trays together anynumber of trays within reason may be stacked one upon the other toprovide a vertical series of compartments for a required use.

When the trays are not in use any number of them may be readily nestedone within another to occupy a small storage space as shown in Figs. 4'and 5. The tapered side and end walls permit of this easy nestingfeature. Another feature is that since the trays are all alike and ofthe same proportions, the openings 23 and the lugs 89, 24 in all traysare spaced the same distance from the end walls l3, and thus provide forvertical nesting of the rear lugs 24 in the openings 23 and completevertical nesting of the front lugs 59 immediately in front of theforward edges of the side walls l2, to form a compact nest of trays asshown in Fig. 4.

Provision is also made for holding a stack of the trays in an angularposition and to retain sheet material in the trays in an obliquelystacked relation to facilitate display or withdrawal of the materialfrom the trays. For this purpose the entire stack of trays is supportedin a holder 3i (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) and locked against displacementtherein. The holder 3| preferably made from a single blank comprises aflat base 32 having a front vertical wall 33 of a desired height and awidth slightly greater than the width of a tray for supporting thelowermost tray of a stack of such trays, in an angular position adjacentthe front support lugs 19 of the tray. The rear edge or" the lowermosttray rests on the holder base 32 as best shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

The top terminal edge of the front vertical wall 53 of the holder 3i isformed with a wide shallow notch 33 (Fig. '7) having a width slightlygreater than the width of a tray. When the tray is in the holder asshown in Figs. 6 and 8, its front end fits within the holder notch 34with the bottom wall H of the tray resting on the bottom of the notchand the rear edge of the laterally projecting front support lugs H! ofthe tray engaging against the outer face of the front wall of the holder(Fig. 6). Thus the tray is locked against transverse and longitudinaldisplacement.

In this inclined position of the stacked trays on the holder support 3!,the rear end wall I3 of each tray is supported by a vertically disposedserrated retaining wall 36 extending longitudinally of the holder base32. This retaining wall 36 may be struck out from the base 32 and bentupwardly into supporting position as shown in the drawings or may be aseparate wall if desired. The top terminal edge of the retaining wall 36is generally inclined and is provided with a series of spaced steps orserrations defined by downwardly inclined faces 3'! and upwardlyinclined faces 33. The downwardly inclined faces 3? are parallel withand support the bottom walls ll of the stacked trays in the holder (seeFig. 8). In a. similar manner, the upwardly inclined faces 38 areparallel with and support the end walls is of the stacked trays in theholder. Thus each step supports the back corner of one of the trays inthe stack and thus collectively the steps hold the entire stack in itsinclined position. Only the lowermost tray is partially supported by theholder base 32, the base in this instance providing one face of theadjacent step.

Besides supporting the back end of each tray in the stack, the steppededge of the retaining wall 35 also locks the stack of trays againsttransverse movement. This is brought about by a series of retainingprojections 39 which extend outwardly and forwardly from the upwardlyinclined faces 38 of the longitudinal serrated tray retaining wall 35.Each projection 39 extends through a verti al slot or opening til (seeFigs. 1, 2, 5 and 8) formed in the rear end wall i3 and partially in thebottom wall ll of the respective trays. The width of the slot issubstantially equal to the width of the retaining projection 39 andthereby eliminates loose play so that a said projection, by reason ofits positioniinthe slot of a said tray,llocks the trayagainst transversemovement. V

The retaining projection 39 serves a dual purpose in that it engages theback edge of sheet material in the tray and thus retains the material ina desired position relative to the tray. As shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8of. the drawings the projection-3s preferably is formed with avertical-front face as although this face may be disposedat a differentangle if desired. At the preferredangle, the face $2 in engaging againstthe back edges ofthe sheet material in the trays, shifts the sheets intoan obliquely positioned stack with the front edges of the sheetsseparated andin overhanging relation to each other. Thus removalof-thesheets individually from the trays isreatly facilitated.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention orsacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A walled tray having an open end and formed for stacking a pluralityof like companion trays one upon another to provide compartmentstherebetween, said tray comprising a bottom wall having: a connectedsurrounding upwardly and outwardly flared wall, a plurality of spacednotches formed in the top edge of said surrounding wall, and acorresponding plurality of spaced lugs extending laterally from saidbottom wall and projecting beyond said surrounding wall for transversealignment with and engagement in the notches of a subjacent companiontray for supporting a superposed tray in vertically stacked relation tosaid companion tray.

2. A Walled tray having an open end and formed for stacking a pluralityof like companion trays one upon another to provide compartmentstherebetween, said tray comprising a bottom wall having a connected pairof upright outwardly flared side walls disposed on opposed sidesthereof, an outwardly flared end wall connecting said side walls, a pairof spaced notches in the top edge of each of said side walls, and acorresponding pair of spaced support lugs extending laterally from saidbottom wall along each of its side edges for alignment with andengagement in the notches of a companion tray for supporting said trayin vertically stacked relation to said companion tray.

3. A walled tray having an open end and formed for stacking a pluralityof like companion trays one upon another to provide compartmentstherebetween, comprising a bottom wall having a pair of connectedupright outwardly flared side walls disposed on opposed sides thereof,an outwardly flared rear end wall connecting said side walls, said endwall being of less height than said side walls, a pair of spaced notchesin the top edge of each of said side walls, the bottoms of said notcheslying substantially in the same horizontal plane as the top edge of saidend wall, and a corresponding pair of support lugs extending laterallyfrom each side of said bottom wall at spaced localities disposedforwardly of said spaced side wall notches, said lugs respectivelyengaging the aforesaid notches of a subjacent companion tray forsupporting the superposed tray in: cooperation with the. top end wall Iedge? of said subjacent tray to maintain the traysini vertically stackedrelation.

4.A walled tray having an open forward end and formed for stacking aplurality'of like'companion trays one upon another to providecompartments therebetween, comprising a bottom wall and a pair ofconnecting side walls'disposed on opposing sides of said bottom wall,said side walls terminating short ofthe front edge of said bottom wallsection to provide a forward extension of said bottom wall section, saidside walls each having a vertical opening therein extending the fullheight of said walls and open at the top edge thereof, a rear end wallconnecting saidside walls, said side and end walls being taperedof saidbottom wall adjacent the front edge ofthe adjoining said side wall, andthe rear lug of each pair extending laterally from said bottom wall atthe base of the opening in its associatedside wall, whereby tofacilitate stacking of a plurality of trays in nested relation withtheir forward lugs disposed in substantial vertical alignment in advanceof the front side wall edges of the trays and with their rear lugsdisposed within the aligned vertical side-wall openings of said trays.

5. A walled tray having an open end and formed for stacking a pluralityof such trays one upon another to provide compartments therebetween,comprising a bottom wall connecting with a surrounding upwardly andoutwardly flared wall, a plurality of notches formed in the top edge ofsaid surrounding wall, and a corresponding plurality of lugs extendinglaterally beyond said surrounding wall and terminating in hook sectionsinclined toward said bottom wall, said lugs engaging in the notches of acompanion subiacent tray for supporting the superposed tray in verticalstacked relation to said companion tray.

6. A holder for holding a stack of like companion trays in an inclinedposition, comprising a base member having an upright transverse frontwall provided with a relatively wide notch in its top edge for receivingand supporting the front portion of the lowermost inclined tray of saidstack, an upright retaining wall connected with said base member andhaving an inclined serrated upper edge provided with a series of stepsrespectively engageable by the rear ends of the stacked trays, saidupright retaining wall being disposed at an angle to and spacedrearwardly from said front wall and extending longitudinally along atleast a portion of said base member.

7. A holder for holding a stack of like companion trays in an inclinedposition, comprising a base member having an upright transverse frontwall provided with a relatively wide notch in its top edge for receivingand supporting the front portion of the lowermost inclined tray of saidstack, a retaining wall integrally connected with said base member andbent at an angle thereto into upright position and having an inclinedserrated upper edge provided with a series of steps respectivelyengageable by the rear ends of the stacked trays, said upright retainingwall being spaced rearwardly from said front wall and extendingsubstantially at right angles thereto 1on- 7 gitudinally along at leasta portion of said base member.

8. The combination of a walled tray having an open end and formed forstacking a plurality of such trays one upon another to providecompartments therebetween, and a holder for holding a stack of the traysin an inclined position; comprising a tray including a bottom wallconnecting with a surrounding upstanding outwardly flared wall includinga rear wall, a plurality of notches formed in the top edge of saidsurrounding wall, and a corresponding plurality of lugs extendinglaterally from said bottom wall beyond said surrounding wall forengagement in the notches of a companion subjacent tray for supportingthe superposed tray in vertically stacked relation to said companiontray, and a holder comprising an upright transverse Wall for engagingunder and supporting a said tray in inclined position adja cent itsfront portion, said holder having an upright retaining wall providedwith an inclined serrated stepped upper edge engageable by the said rearwalls of the stacked trays for supporting said tray stack in an inclinedposition, and means on said holder retaining wall engageable with meanson said tray rear walls for maintain ing said inclined stack of traysagainst transverse movement relative to said holder.

9. The combination of a walled tray having an open end and formed forstacking a plurality of such trays one upon another to providecompartments therebetween, and a holder for holding a stack of the traysin an inclined position, comprising; a tray having a bottom wall and aconnected upright outwardly flared wall having an opening therein, aplurality of notches formed in the top edge of said upright wall, and acorresponding plurality of lugs extending laterally from said bottomwall beyond said upright wall for engagement in the notches of asubjacent tray for supporting the superposed tray in vertically stackedrelation to said subjacent tray, and a holder comprising an uprighttransverse forward support wall having a relativel wide notch in its topedge for receiving and supporting an inclined tray adjacent its frontportion, said holder including an upright retaining wall having aninclined serrated upper edge provided with a series of stepsrespectively engageable by the rear ends of the stacked trays forsupporting a plurality of said trays in said inclined position, each ofsaid steps including a projection extending into an adjacent traythrough said opening in the upright wall thereof for looking said trayagainst lateral displacement and for engaging and holding a plurality ofsheets in said tray in obliquely stacked relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 763,962 Clayton et al 1 July 5', 1904 792,427 Knudsen June 13,1905 1,469,645 Kobbe Oct. 2, 1923 1,734,618 Frazier Nov. 5, 19291,915,369 Lane et al June 27, 1933 2,087,944 Brown July 27, 19332,105,179 Best et al Jan. 11, 1938 I 2,276,121 Thorn et a1 Mar. 10, 19422,490,269 Johnson Dec. 6, 1949

